PRINCE2 is a powerful project management method, but implementing PRINCE2 in an organization can be challenging. Many organizations will resist any new framework and label it as "yet another bureaucratic process."
Success requires implementing PRINCE2 gradually so it at any given time brings more value than annoyance — especially to executive management level. A generic method like PRINCE2 can easily be misunderstood, misused and blamed for everything that went wrong in a project.
This guide provides a step-by-step PRINCE2 implementation plan that has worked well in real life. Tune and change it to meet your specific organizational needs.
The 10-Step Implementation Plan
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Step 1: Secure Executive Backing for Project Management Improvements Build your coalition of supporters and establish the business case for change.
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Step 2: Introduce Project Mandate and the Executive Role Create a project portfolio list and establish the PM and Executive roles.
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Step 3: Highlight Reporting Introduce executive-friendly, one-page highlight reports with traffic-light status indicators.
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Step 4: Glue It Together Assemble PRINCE2 components — aggregate highlight reports and link projects to mandates.
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Step 5: Sell PRINCE2 to Your Organization Market the principles-driven framework with three compelling arguments.
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Step 6: Establish a PRINCE2 SWAT Team and Implementation Project Build a certified team and run PRINCE2 adoption itself as a PRINCE2 project.
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Step 7: Build the Toolbox Create customised templates, document management systems, and collaboration tools.
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Step 8: Secure a Good Start Avoid over-implementation. Focus on Business Case, Product-Based Plan, and Project Brief.
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Step 9: Control Delivery Introduce Product Descriptions, Work Packages, and the Quality Register.
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Step 10: Stage It Implement "Manage by Stages" — Initiation Stage, Stage Plans, End Stage Reports.
Also see: Common PRINCE2 Mistakes to Avoid — a checklist of the nine most common implementation pitfalls.